MINING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 60, 29 July 1912, Page 7

MINING.

MILLS REWARD COMPANY. Mr. J. J. Elwin presided over the 'annual general meeting of the Mills Reward Gold Mining Company, Ltd., which was held at the secretary's office, New Plymouth, on Saturday. Messrs. F. M. Mills, T. W. Morris, Erlandson, M. Jones. J. F. Morris, and E. P. Webster were also present.

I The directors' report read as follows: —Since the formation of the company active prospecting has been carried out at several points in the company's property. The directors have secured, besides the Mills Reward claim, two other claims, the Moturoa and Ngamotu, making the whole area 240 acres. A detailed report of the work done will be found in the manager's report. The directors would point out that the time is approaching when it will be necessary to consider the advisability of erecting a battery to utilise the ore which is now in sight. The directors who retire, Messrs. M. Jones and R. H. Campbell, being eligible, offer themselves for reelection.

The report was adopted, and the retiring directors were re-elected, and Mr. C. T. Mills was appointed auditor for the ensuing year.

It was decided to obtain expert advice as to the - advisability or otherwise of erecting a battery at this stage of the developments. The mine manager (Mr. J./Davis) reported as follows: — Since my appointment as manager of your mine, operations 'have been principally confined to three reefs, namely, No. 2 Reef and Smith's Reef, Mills Reward section, and the dropper, Moturoa section, although a considerable amount of prospecting work has been done besides in different parts of the ground.

Operations were started on No. 2 Reef, No. 2 level, at a point 25 feet from the crosscut which had heen driven previously, and continued for a total distance of 102 feet, the reef carrying gold at intervals, and at one place small blotches were seen in the stone. At this point a winze was sunk to a depth of 20 feet, and fairly good prospects were obtained at the bottom, but owing to the increase of water sinking had to be abandoned. .

The reef is a fine body of stone from G inches to 24 inches wide, running north and south and underlying to the west about 75 per cent. Smith's Reef.—This reef is near the south-west boundary line and a crosscut was put in for a distance of 00 feet, intersecting the reef which is running about north and south, and underlying slightly to the east. The reef varies in size from fl inches to 24 inches wide, and carries gold for the most of the distance driven.' The gold is of a fine nature and would require cyanide treatment to extract the metal, which I estimate to be worth £3 10s per ton. ■ Top Level, Smith's Reef.—A crosscut was extended for 17 feet and met the reef, which is about 24 inches wide, and driven on for a distance of 72 feet. The j reef- carried fairly good prospects all the | way. Owing to the face of the drive [being nearly through the hill it was I discontinued.

A rise from No. 2 level has been put Up and connected with the top'level, which gives good ventilation, besides opening a block ready for stoping. A stope has also been taken along for a distance of 21 feet north from the rise, but was discontinued so as to enable the men to continue driving the level north. This .block is now ready for stoping, and should produce fairlv good dirt. No. 3 Level, Smith's Reef.—This level is now in operation, and has been extended 137 feet, and will require a fur-/ ther 50 feet to be driven to intersect \ Smith's Reef. The country passed: through has not been favorable, but is> much better for the last few feet, which looks hopefui when Smith's Reef comes to hand. About 40 tons of ore are at grass from the reef. Moturoa Section.—A top level was driven 30 feet on Moturoa reef, arid as the gpld did not go ahead a short crosscut was put in the footwall, and the dropper and this lead were driven on for a distance of 102 feet and a ri3e put up to the surface 47 feet, fair prospects being obtained all the way. Low Level, Moturoa Section.—A crosscut was extended for 29 feet and cut the dropper, and continued for a further [distance of 23 feet. Six feet from the I dropper the Moturoa reef was cut runI ning almost parallel with the dropper. ' ! This reef was driven on for a distance of 41 feet. Although a strong reef with I I pood indications, it never made gold at I this level. The dropper was continued for a distance of 20 feet, but a change of country coming in pinched up the reef, so it was decided to rise near the face (o the top level, fairly good prospects being obtained. About 20 tons of quartz <iiv slacked from this 'reef, and should he worth about £2 10s per ton. A block of ground 80 feet by 00 is now all ready for stopinc out on the above leader.

From the dropper a crosscut was thrown out for 90 feet, and cut a lead in which gold was obtained on the surface, and driven on for 4S feet, but though the indications were favorable, they did not warrant further working. \Ve.«t from the mouth of the low level a drive was put in on a small leader (\\ feet, from which w:vs obtained a little picked stone on the surface, but the gold did not go down, and from this loader a crosscut was thrown out for a distance of 48 feet to get under where good loose prospects were obtained on the surface, but we did not meet with any lead, a change of country having taken place. Besides the above-named work- a. considerable amount of prospecting has been done, and a good many ' reefs located.

I hope to have a fnvornhlp report when we intersect Smith's Kei-f in the low level.